Chapter 8

There was nothing but a blinding darkness.

Sounds were coming from above and some of it sounded like talking. It wasn’t English whatever it was. I coughed and tried to sit up. I could feel burlap chafing against my skin and looked down to see what I was wearing but was rendered sightless to it.

Encased in fear, I started panting and tried to recall where I was. The real terror didn’t set in until I realized my wrists were knotted together. I started shifting myself around and awkwardly stood up. My feet drug a few inches before I hit my head. Owe! I felt around with my clasped hands what I had marched into. It didn’t take me but a second to gather what it was. Panic started to overcome me and I opened my mouth, preparing to scream, when I heard someone else coughing.

I knew that cough.

“Francis?” I whispered almost inaudibly. “Francis? Is that you?” I asked a little louder.

Another cough followed. “Yeah it’s me,” answered Francis.

I felt the bars again. “Where are you?” I heard scrabbling, and a few curse words from my left ear.

“What the hell is going on?” Francis asked. “I’m tied up.”

Trembling, I hunted the black for his face. “Me too. I’m in a cage. What happened? How did we get here?” The darkness had enveloped me in its horror and an idea came to me. Then I remembered where my savior was. "Damn!" I cursed.

"What is it?"

I answered, "I thought I may have my cell phone, but it's in your truck. Do you have yours?" A few seconds later he replied with a disappointing no. Footsteps as light as a feather were coming toward me, and I barely caught it. “What was that?” I blurted.

“I don’t know. I didn’t hear anything. What do you think it was?”

There was breathing. It was getting louder and sounded thick. It wasn’t coming from where I would expect it. It seemed like it was coming from the floor. Feeling brave, I knelt down and inched my way in the direction of the sound.

A match struck and the fresh light gave the creature a face.